Krakatau

1. On the 27-August-1883 a volcano called Krakatao erupted, it was the most violent explosion in history, 21,547.6 times more powerful than an atom bomb. It sent fiery ash around at speeds up to 160.9344 km/ph 2. The eruption of the volcano was heard over 1/13th of the earth. 3. Ash fell as far as 6076 kilometers away and darkness covered the Sunda straits from 11 am. Until the day after (27th) 4. The eruption caused huge waves that reached heights of 40m above sea level, hurling coral blocks ashore weighing more than 600 tons. 5. More than 36417 people were killed most by the tsunamis and more than 150 cities and villages destroyed 6. The eruption was so strong that 2/3’s of the volcano had blew apart and new islands where formed where the ocean used to be 36m deep. 7. The shock wave was so powerful that it echoed around the earth seven times for 5 days after the explosion. 8. The tsunami traveled a distance (7037.6 km) in twelve hours that’s usually covered in 12 days 9. The sun appeared blue and green because fine ash and aerosol erupted more than 50 km into the air that has been said to travel around the globe in 13 days. As the ash spread into a higher and higher, sunsets became red and glowing, so red that fire engines where called out of New York. The unusual sunsets continued for another three years. 10. Rafts of ash where thick enough to support people where made by the volcano and where still floating two years after the eruption 11All the volcanic dust acted as an o-zone layer making temperates drop as much as 1.2O degrees and stayed that way for five years

Journal At 6 o’clock, I went to the beach. The sea was so low that many cliffs were visible. It looked queer and I did not feel at ease. I called for van Zuylen, my assistant, so that we could draw up a report to the resident about what had happened. It was just past seven and the lights were on. A moment later van Zuylen said "I am sorry, but I would like to stop for a moment. I don't feel at ease". Scarcely were those words uttered when we heard a terrible noise. The, women and children fled from their houses shouting "The water is coming. The water is coming". Van Zuylen, the servant and I left the house in a hurry and invited everyone to take shelter in my house, which they accepted. I did so because my house was built on piles and situated on a hill. The water once again returned to the sea Everybody calmed down. But only for a short while because, almost at once, we heard the water approaching again with a terrible noise. 200-300 people were sheltering in my house. I walked from one side to another to maintain peace and quiet. Suddenly I heard the front portion of the house collapse, and the water rushed in. I advised everyone to go to the rear. But, my God, scarcely was I standing than the house collapsed completely and the current dragged all of us along. I got hold of a shelf with which I floated along until I was pulled by the legs and let go of the shelf. After that, I got hold of a few pieces of thin wood and managed to stay afloat until the water returned to the sea and I felt solid ground under my feet. However, I stayed where I was and covered my head with my coat to protect myself against the mud rain. I heard men, women and children call for help, but any help was impossible. I could not raise myself out of weakness and fear and could not see a thing. Suddenly the water returned with the same force. I said a quick prayer, asking for help for everybody, and myself and prepared myself for death. The water took hold of me, turned me around, and threw me away with terrible force. Then I was stuck between two floating houses. I couldn't breath anymore and I thought that the end was come. But suddenly they parted and I got hold of a banana trunk and stuck to it with all my strength. I don't know how long I floated around, but the water returned to the sea and once again I stood on solid ground. Again I sat there for at least an hour without moving and it was dark everywhere and the mud rain was still going on. I did hear people shout, but that was all. A moment later, I heard a native talking to a few women. I called out to them and proposed we walk along together, which was accepted. I left my place with closed eyes and touched the ground all around, leaving the sea behind me. I did not have any clothes

on anymore, except a vest which was badly torn anyway, so I walked stark naked in the cold mud rain. Soon I discovered that the thee persons had departed, as I did not hear them anymore (with a streakier around was it any wonder! Ed). I would have given a thousand guilders if I could only have found my previous place, as where I was walking now the ground was covered with thorns and nasty bushes, and all the time I fell over trees and the debris of houses. Walking along for some time, I at least heard voices again. I opened my eyes and saw a native with some women. I told them I was the Controller, and together we reached Penenggoenga (15 km NW of Beneawang) that evening at 8 o'clock. My ordeal had lasted from 8 in the morning until 8 in the evening.